Getting Started Creative PC-CAM 350 Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd.
Contents Introduction About the Applications .............................................................................. vi Creative PC-CAM Center .................................................................. vi Creative WebCam Monitor ............................................................... vi Microsoft NetMeeting....................................................................... vi Ulead Photo Express MCE 4.0...........................................................
Taking a Photo in Preview Mode ...................................................... 2-3 Recording a Video in Preview Mode ................................................. 2-3 Viewing a Photo ..................................................................................... 2-4 Viewing a Video ..................................................................................... 2-4 Reactivating the Camera.........................................................................
Undocked mode............................................................................ A-3 Light Sensitivity .....................................................................................A-3 Video Formats .......................................................................................A-3 Exposure Control ...................................................................................A-3 Color Balance ........................................................................................
Introduction
Introduction Creative PC-CAM 350 is an Internet video camera that allows you to capture images in 24-bit (16.7 million) colors. It also records videos in full-color. The following are just some of the things you can do with your PC-CAM 350: ❑ Video Conferencing. Want to chat face-to-face with someone over the Internet? Used together with Microsoft NetMeeting, PC-CAM 350 allows you to have realtime videoconferencing with virtually anybody over the Internet! ❑ Security Camera.
About the Applications Creative PC-CAM Center This powerful application lets you take pictures or record videos and store them in albums. Use this application to download pictures to your computer, when using PC-CAM 350 as a portable digital camera. You can also export pictures or videos to other programs, or send them as attachments in your e-mail message. There are various settings for you to adjust, allowing you to optimize the quality of your pictures and videos.
Ulead Photo Express MCE 4.0 Ulead® Photo Express™ MCE 4.0 has everything you need to get started with picture editing and sharing. Sort your pictures in seconds using the visual thumbnail Browse mode. Retouch problematic photos with quick and easy enhancement tools. Ulead Photo Express MCE 4.0 is fully customizable and allows you to add cool captions to photos with colorful eye-catching text. You can even e-mail your pictures as HTML mail or as attachments.
Minimum System Requirements ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Creative does not assume any costs charged to connect to the Internet.
Document Conventions The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document: Table 1: Document conventions This Represents This notepad icon indicates information that is of particular importance and should be considered before continuing. This alarm clock icon indicates that failure to adhere to directions may result in loss of data or damage to your computer. The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to directions may result in bodily harm or life-threatening situations.
1 Installing PC-CAM 350
Installing PC-CAM 350 PC-CAM 350 Figure 1-1 shows you the front and back views of the camera. Snapshot button Viewfinder Strobe-Flash Front LED Lights up when the camera is connected to the computer. Focus-free lens Front view Camera-ready LED Viewfinder Power button Image counter Operation mode button Flash button. Back view Figure 1-1: Front and back views of PC-CAM 350.
Figure 1-2 shows the buttons and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) on the camera. Power button Single snapshot (high resolution), Single snapshot (normal resolution) and Single snapshot (low resolution) modes icons Self-timer single snapshot (normal resolution) and Self-timer single snapshot (high resolution) modes icons Multiple-snapshot (normal resolution) mode icon Audio cues enabled icon Video Recording icon Battery level indicator Image counter Flash mode button.
Buttons and LCD on PCCAM 350 The following section explains the functions of the buttons and LCD on your PCCAM 350. Refer to Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 for the location of these buttons and LCDs on your camera. Buttons The following buttons are found on your PC-CAM 350: ❑ Power button To turn on your camera, press this button. You can only turn on your camera when it is disconnected from the computer. To turn off your camera, press and hold this button for two seconds.
LCD The following LCD icons and symbols are found on your PC-CAM 350: ❑ Single snapshot (high resolution) This icon indicates that you are in Single snapshot (high resolution) mode. In this mode, the camera captures images at 640 x 480 pixels with software interpolation. ❑ Single snapshot (normal resolution) This icon indicates that you are in Single snapshot (normal resolution) mode. In this mode, the camera captures images at 352 x 288 pixels.
❑ Auto Flash This icon indicates that your camera is in Auto Flash mode. In this mode, the camera automatically detects whether there is sufficient light and activates the camera flash if needed. ❑ No Flash This icon indicates that your camera’s flash is disabled. ❑ Battery level indicator This icon displays the battery level. ❑ Audio cues enabled This icon indicates that the various audio cues built into your camera are enabled.
Inserting or Changing Batteries • No batteries are required when the camera is connected to the computer. • If the camera is to be connected to the computer for a long period of time, remove the batteries to prevent battery leakage. • Make sure that you insert the batteries in the correct direction. If not, they may leak and cause damage to the camera. • Do not mix old batteries with new ones or batteries of different types together.
Installing PC-CAM 350 Refer to the instructions for your computer's operating system. For users of Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows Me, see “In Windows 98/98 SE/Me” in the section that follows. For users of Windows 2000, see “In Windows 2000” on page 1-9. For users of Windows XP, see “In Windows XP” on page 1-10. In Windows 98/98 SE/Me 1. Do not connect PC-CAM 350 to your computer before installing the drivers.
• The USB port(s) of certain computers may be found on the front panel instead of the back panel. • You can also attach the camera to a self-powered USB hub. 5. Connect PC-CAM 350’s USB cable to an available USB port on your computer (see Figure 1-5). Place PC-CAM 350 on top of your computer monitor or another flat surface. You can connect the camera while the computer is turn on. Windows automatically detects the device. USB port USB cable Figure 1-5: Connecting PC-CAM 350 to the computer. i.
6. When the PC-CAM 350 Camera Configuration dialog box appears, check the image in the Video preview pane. If it flickers or displays a series of dark bands, click the Cancel Flicker button. 7. Click the Finish button, and then restart your computer if you are prompted to do so. In Windows 2000 1. Do not connect PC-CAM 350 to your computer before installing the drivers. If you accidentally begin installation with PC-CAM 350 connected, the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears.
6. Two Digital Signature Not Found dialog boxes will appear, one at a time, telling you that Creative PC-CAM 350 (Still Image) and Creative PC-CAM 350 (Video) (Figure 1-6) have been detected. 7. Click the Yes button. The PC-CAM 350 Camera Configuration dialog box appears. 8. Check the image in the Video preview pane. If it flickers or displays a series of dark bands, click the Cancel Flicker button. 9. Click the Finish button, and then restart your computer if you are prompted to do so.
At the time of this product’s release, Microsoft strongly encouraged companies to submit their hardware solutions for certification. If a hardware device driver is not submitted, or does not qualify, for Microsoft certification, a warning message appears. You may see this message when installing this driver. If you do, you may choose to click the Continue Anyway button. Creative has tested this driver on Windows XP, and it does not impair or destabilize your computer.
Verifying the installation In Windows 98/98SE/ Me/2000/XP 1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. For Windows XP, click Start -> Control Panel. 2. Double-click the System icon. The System Properties dialog box appears. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. For Windows 2000/XP, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button. 4. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon.
2 Using PC-CAM 350 as a Web Camera
Using PC-CAM 350 as a Web Camera Starting PC-CAM Center PC-CAM Center is an easy-to-use application that enables you to take pictures and record short videos with the PC-CAM 350 camera. You can also view pictures and videos, create and manage albums, and download image files from your camera. If PC-CAM Center does not recognize the camera correctly, see Appendix A, “Troubleshooting.
After PC-CAM Center is started, the PC-CAM Center screen similar to Figure 2-1 appears.The following sections describe the more commonly used operations. For more details on how to use PC-CAM Center, see the section “Starting PC-CAM Center Help” on page 2-5. Figure 2-1: PC-CAM Center screen. Capturing Images and Videos With PC-CAM Center, you can take photos and record videos in two modes — with and without a preview. The preview mode is active by default.
Taking a Photo in Preview Mode To take a photo in the default preview mode: 1. In the PC-CAM Center window, click the Live Video button. The current camera view is displayed in the Viewing window. 2. In the Save Photo in box, select the destination album for your photo. 3. If the Save automatically check box is selected, click to clear it. 4. To capture the image in the viewing window, click the Snap Photo button at the bottom of the window. The image is captured but not saved.
Viewing a Photo To view a photo you have taken: 1. Click the My Album button. PC-CAM Center is now in My Album mode. 2. In the My Album box, click the My Photo folder and then click the album that contains the photos that you want to view. The album’s thumbnails are displayed in the Thumbnails window. 3. Double-click the thumbnail of the image that is displayed in the Thumbnails window. The image is displayed in the PC-CAM Center Viewing window, in its actual size.
Starting PCCAM Center Help This Help file contains instructions on how to use PC-CAM Center to take pictures and record short videos. It also teaches you how to change settings so as to achieve optimum quality for your pictures and videos. To start the Help file: 1. Click PC-CAM Center at the top left corner of PC-CAM Center’s main window. 2. On the PC-CAM Center menu, click Help.
3 Using PC-CAM 350 as a Digital Camera
Using PC-CAM 350 as a Digital Camera You can also use PC-CAM 350 as a portable digital camera when it is not connected to your computer. Note: Remember to insert four 1.5 V AAA alkaline batteries into the camera’s battery compartment. Turning on the Camera To turn on the camera, do the following: Battery Low When the battery is running low, the following occurs: ❑ The battery-low indicator (as shown on the right) is displayed. ❑ When the Snapshot button is pressed, two warning beeps are heard.
Taking Pictures • You can only turn the camera on when it is disconnected from the computer. • If there is insufficient memory in the camera, the counter will start flashing “000” immediately. • When the counter starts flashing “000,” you cannot take any more pictures until you have cleared the camera’s memory by deleting existing pictures. • The Multiple-snapshot mode consumes more battery power. • The camera turns itself off if it is left idle after three minutes. 1.
When the audio cues of your camera are enabled, a warning sound is emitted if the lighting conditions are inadequate for a snapshot. • To view pictures that you have taken while using the camera on-the-go, you must connect the camera to the computer and download the pictures using PC-CAM Center. • As JPEG compresses an image according to its details, colors and compression ratio, the file size varies according to the picture taken.
5. • The counter value normally decreases by one after a picture is taken. However, depending on the quality of the picture, the counter value may also decrease by two, or not at all. 6. 7. 8. 9. ❑ Self-timer single snapshot (high resolution) Select this mode if you want a high resolution snapshot to be taken after a delay of ten seconds. Images are captured at a resolution of 640 x 480. You can use this feature to take pictures of yourself. Press the Snapshot button to take a delayed snapshot.
Tips on Taking Good Pictures There are a few tips to note when taking a good picture. ❑ Bright lighting Avoid taking pictures with bright light sources all around the object. These lights will create “hotspots,” which will affect the quality of the picture. ❑ Bad lighting When indoors or outdoors, be sure there is enough light falling onto the object. Avoid taking pictures of objects in shadows, especially when the light source (for example, sun or spotlight) is directly behind the object.
Recording Videos In Video Recording mode, the camera’s flash is automatically disabled. Downloading Images from the Camera To start recording a video, do the following: 1. Press the Operation Mode button to select the Video Recording mode . 2. Aim the camera at the desired object, and use the camera’s viewfinder to verify that the object is in the camera’s view. Note: The object should be at least 75 cm (30 inches) away from the camera. 3. Hold the camera still and press the Snapshot button.
7. Click the OK button. Deleting Images from the Camera After downloading the picture files and videos safely into your album, delete them from your camera to make space for new pictures and videos to be stored. Docked Mode When PC-CAM 350 is connected to your computer, do the following to delete images: 1. In the PC-CAM Center window, click the Digital Camera button. A thumbnail view of the pictures stored in the camera’s memory is displayed. 2.
A Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications This section lists the specifications of your PC-CAM 350 camera.
Note: Battery life depends on mode and battery type. Four AAA alkaline batteries can last for up to 450 snapshots with flash and 3000 snapshots without flash.
• • • • • 640 352 320 176 160 x x x x x 480 (with software interpolation) 288 240 144 120 ❑ Video Mode • 352 x 288 • 320 x 240 • 176 x 144 • 160 x 120 Undocked mode ❑ 640 x 480 (with software interpolation) ❑ 352 x 288 ❑ 176 x 144 Light Sensitivity 10 lux Video Formats ❑ 24-bit RGB ❑ 4:2:0 YUV Planar Exposure Control Automatic (optional manual control with software) Color Balance Automatic (optional manual control with software) Technical Specifications A-3
Color Matrix Preset and integral to camera Port Compatibility Universal Serial Bus port Flash Between 1.5 meters (5 feet) and 2.
B Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting This appendix provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use. Problem Installing Software The setup program for PC-CAM 350 does not run automatically after you insert the Installation CD into the drive. The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled. To install the software from the CD: 1. Leave the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive. 2. Click Start -> Run. 3. In the Open box, type D:\CTRUN\CTRUN.
An application reports that the video driver is already in use, or that the camera cannot be found. Do the following: ❑ The camera is not properly connected. To resolve this problem, ensure that the camera’s USB connector is inserted, and that the USB host controller is enabled in your computer’s BIOS. Refer to your computer’s documentation for information on the BIOS. ❑ Reinstall the video capture drivers and reboot. The image is too bright even though exposure and brightness levels have been adjusted.
When the camera is connected to the computer, pressing the Snapshot button does not start an application. The application to be activated has not been pre-selected. Do the following: If you select more than one application, you will be prompted to choose one of them when you press the Snapshot button. 1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Scanners & Cameras icon. The Scanners & Cameras Properties dialog box appears. 3. Click the Devices tab. 4.
Problems in Windows XP A Hardware Installation error message appears on a Windows XP operating system when a driver is being installed. At the time of this product's release, Microsoft strongly encouraged companies to submit their hardware solutions for certification. If a hardware device driver is not submitted, or does not qualify, for Microsoft certification, a warning message similar to the one below appears. You may see this message when installing this driver.
C USB Compatibility
Note on USB Compatibility While testing PC-CAM 350 on PC motherboards with integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, we encountered a small number of motherboards that do not meet the USB specification exactly. These and other non-USB-compliant motherboards may not operate correctly with PC-CAM 350. Fortunately, the manufacturers of some of these motherboards have released new versions of motherboards or BIOS to address the problem.
